Our Vision for Computer Science at HEA
At Huish, our Computer Science curriculum is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Our intent is to foster a deep understanding of computational thinking, problem-solving, and the ethical implications of technology.
We aim to develop computational thinking and encourage students to approach problems methodically, breaking them down into manageable parts and designing efficient solutions. We ensure that students are digitally literate and are proficient in using a variety of digital tools and platforms, preparing them for future academic and career opportunities. We encourage creativity and innovation, inspiring students to use technology creatively to design and develop their own projects and embody a spirit of innovation. We instil a sense of responsibility and ethics in the use of technology, emphasising the importance of data privacy, cybersecurity, and the societal impact of digital advancements.
We prepare our students for the future. We equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue further education and careers in computer science and related fields.
Key Themes/Domains
| Computer Science | Information Technology | Digital Literacy |
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Curriculum Overview
Year 7
| Year 7 | |
| Autumn 1 |
Using Media – Gaining Support for a Cause Students learn how to create digital content to promote a cause, developing skills in multimedia and responsible communication. |
| Autumn 2 | |
| Spring 1 |
Networks – From Semaphores to the Internet An introduction to how data travels, from early communication methods to modern networking. |
| Spring 2 | |
| Summer 1 |
Scratch Programming Students build interactive programs using Scratch, developing foundational programming concepts. |
| Summer 2 | |
Year 8
| Year 8 | |
| Autumn 1 |
Introduction to Python Programming A first look at text-based coding using Python, focusing on logic and problem-solving. |
| Autumn 2 | |
| Spring 1 |
Mobile App Development Students design and prototype apps, exploring user interface design and functionality. |
| Spring 2 | |
| Summer 1 |
Developing for the Web An introduction to HTML, CSS, and web design principles. |
| Summer 2 | |
Year 9
| Year 9 | |
| Autumn 1 |
Programming with Sequences of Data Students deepen their Python skills by working with lists and loops. |
| Autumn 2 | |
| Spring 1 |
Data Science Exploring how data is collected, analysed, and visualised to gain insights. |
| Spring 2 | |
| Summer 1 |
Media – Animations Creating digital animations using tools and techniques that combine creativity with technical skills. |
| Summer 2 | |
Year 10
| Year 10 | |
| Autumn 1 |
Systems Architecture
Memory and Storage
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| Autumn 2 |
Computer Networks, Connections and Protocols
Network Security
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| Spring 1 |
Systems Software Understand the purpose and types of operating systems and utility software. |
| Spring 2 |
Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impacts
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| Summer 1 |
Algorithms
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| Summer 2 |
Programming Fundamentals
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Year 11
| Year 11 | |
| Autumn 1 |
Producing Robust Programs Focus on defensive design, validation, and testing techniques. |
| Autumn 2 |
Boolean Logic Use logic gates, truth tables, and Boolean expressions in problem solving. |
| Spring 1 |
Programming Languages and IDEs Understand the role of translators and the features of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). |
| Spring 2 | Revision, programming practice and exam preparation. |
| Summer 1 | Examinations |
| Summer 2 | |
Year 12
| Year 12 | |
| Autumn 1 |
Fundamentals of Programming Covers data types, variables, constants, control structures (sequence, selection, iteration), subroutines, recursion, and error handling. |
| Autumn 2 |
Fundamentals of Data Structures Includes arrays, stacks, queues, trees, hash tables, and graphs, with emphasis on implementation and use. Fundamentals of Data Representation Binary systems, number bases, character encoding, images, sound, and compression techniques. Fundamentals of Computer Systems Covers hardware, software, system development life cycle, and types of systems. |
| Spring 1 |
Fundamentals of Algorithms Focuses on algorithm design, efficiency, and standard algorithms (e.g., searching and sorting). Fundamentals of Computer Organisation and Architecture Examines CPU architecture, instruction sets, and the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle. |
| Spring 2 |
Theory of Computation Explores finite state machines, regular expressions, Turing machines, and the limits of computation. Consequences of Uses of Computing Ethical, legal, cultural, and environmental impacts of computing. |
| Summer 1 |
Fundamentals of Communication and Networking Network types, protocols, topologies, and the internet structure. |
| Summer 2 |
Fundamentals of Databases Conceptual Data Models & Entity Relationship Modelling; Relational Databases; Database Design and Normalisation; Structured Query Language (SQL); Client-Server Databases |
Year 13
| Year 13 | |
| Autumn 1 |
Begin study on the Python skeleton program, which will form part of the Paper 1 examination. Big Data
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| Autumn 2 |
Fundamentals of Functional Programming
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| Spring 1 |
Non-examined assessment deadline. Revision and examination preparation. |
| Spring 2 | |
| Summer 1 | Examinations |
| Summer 2 | |
Assessment
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Year 7 | Mastery quiz and assessment quizzes – at the end of the term | Mastery quiz and assessment quizzes – at the end of the term | Mastery quiz and assessment quizzes – at the end of the term |
| Year 8 | |||
| Year 9 | |||
| Year 10 |
End of unit tests on:
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End of unit tests on:
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End of unit tests on:
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| Year 11 |
End of unit tests on:
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End of unit test on:
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Public examinations |
| Year 12 |
End of unit tests on:
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End of unit tests on:
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End of unit tests on:
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| Year 13 |
End of unit tests on:
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Non-examined assessment | Public examinations |
Exam Board Link(s)
Extracurricular Opportunities
- Coding Club
Careers
Where can Computer Science qualifications take you?
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code.org: Offers career videos, virtual field trips, and interactive lessons that are highly relevant for computer science students
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Harvard's CS50: Introduction to Computer Science: One of the most popular and respected introductory computer science courses in the world, this platform is ideal for students who wish to independently extend their skills beyond the classroom and prepare for a career in computer science
Learning Beyond the Curriculum
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Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths - A fascinating exploration of how insights from computer algorithms can be applied to our everyday lives, helping to solve common decision-making problems and illuminate the workings of the human mind.
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Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark - Discusses artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the future of life on Earth and beyond
